photostrip
February 15, 2013


TCSA Announces 2 NEW Preferred Vendor Programs for School Furniture and School Supplies
Objective: Provide charter schools across the U.S. with negotiated discounts on products necessary in everyday operations

 

School Supplies:
S&S Worldwide: 25% (30% for new schools/campuses) negotiated discount plus Free shipping
Staples: Pre-negotiated pricing plus free shipping

School Furniture: 
Hertz Furniture:  ~40% negotiated savings on school furniture plus 25 year guaranty     
Staples: ~40% negotiated savings on school furniture

A rigorous RFP process was conducted for each product and meets the standards as set forth in Texas purchasing requirements. Each of these programs is part of a National purchasing consortium with charter school associations across the U.S. TCSA will earn a portion of each sale that will be utilized to support advocacy, legal, financial and training development efforts for our member schools.

Questions?
Contact Brian Levy, TCSA Director of School Support Services, at 512-584-8272 or via
email. 
JOIN 2013 Membership   
THANK YOU for standing with TCSA in 2013!  TCSA is honored to work alongside quality charter schools paving the way in public school education for Texas students.

To learn more on how to maximize your membership in 2013, please contact Erin Tholen, Member Services Associate by calling 512.584.8272 or via email.

Become a member today!
Telca 4
Watch this month's FREE TCSA Quality Framework Webinar: Quality Framework Reports and Data Overview 
Watch this recorded webinar and learn where to find each type of report in the Quality Framework portal. See how easy it us to use the graphs, charts, and tables available now. Topics include: How to view system, element, and indicator-level reports for the Self-Assessment and Comparative Reports, and where to find and how to use multiple years of historical data in the TCSA Data Pack, including enrollment, demographics, and performance data for your charter and for each campus.

Who should watch?

Superintendents, executive directors, principals, compliance officers, grant officers--anyone on your staff who uses data for reporting or planning purposes.

Watch now
Streaming recording link

Questions? Email the Quality Framework team. 
TCSA Rally 20110504 - Parent Newsletter Oct 4 2011May Rally at the Capitol
Planning is underway for our next legislative rally for charter school supporters to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. TCSA is working with member school campuses to coordinate this effort and ensure your advocates have a great experience rallying in support of charter school students and our legislation.

The policies that impact charter schools will be deliberated on during this legislative session. Hearing directly from charter school leaders, parents and teachers is one of the best ways for state legislators to understand how vital charter schools are to providing a great public education for Texas students. Join us as we stand together in support of Texas public charter schools!

To confirm your participation, please email Jennifer Limas-Mota, TCSA Director of Grassroots Advocacy.

FREE College and Career Fest
SXSWedu will host a FREE College and Career Fest for 11th and 12th graders on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, from 2pm - 8pm at the Austin Convention Center.
 
Future Plans College & Career Fair is a free and open-to-the-public event for Central Texas high school students and their families. With the help of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Austin Independent School District and other area school districts, the event will bring together and empower area students and their families with practical information regarding their options beyond high school.   

UPDATE: TEA Special Education Policy Deadline Extended
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has extended the deadline for updating special education policies in the IDEA 2004 Legal Framework system maintained by the Region 18 ESC (Midland). Previously, TEA required that each LEA update its special education policies on that site by November 30, 2012. The new deadline is March 15, 2013. In collaboration with a Special Education Working Group at the Region 13 ESC (Austin), TCSA has prepared a set of compliant special education policies that is now available to all charter schools free of charge, regardless of the school's status as a TCSA member. As a reminder, charter governing boards must approve these policies before they are uploaded onto ESC Region 18's Legal Framework for the Child-Centered Special Education Process.

For access to the special education model policies and instructions for adapting, adopting and uploading the policies, contact your local regional education service center.  

Note that Region 18 deleted all current policies from the system on Monday, November 19th.
Every school should ensure that it has a copy of its current policies for its records.
For more information contact TCSA Director of Legal Policy Services, Lindsey Jones byph. 512.584.8272 or via email.


TCSA Facilities Training Date & Location Change:
ll
Thursday, Feb. 28 - Friday, Mar. 1, 2013, 9:30AM - 4PM
ll 
Educational Resource Center Inc.  
Training Facility  
10325 Bandera Road 
San Antonio, Texas 78250
ll 
Does your charter school have an adequate facility to meet your vision?
Join us in San Antonio, TX for two days of game changing insights to move your facility development and maintenance plans into the 21st century.

Come join us for this sought after session for charter executives, administrators, and board members all focused on giving you the most up to date information regarding charter school facilities.

Target Audience:
Board Members
Executives
Central Administrative Officers
Administrators
Business Managers

Topics Include:
Overview of Financing Options
Maintenance Plans for Safety & Security
Best Practices for Negotiating Leases
Preparing for the Bond Market
Facilities Funding in Texas

Payment Information:
You may pay via credit card, Paypal, check, or PO.
Early bird discount: $50 off member ticket; $45 off non-member ticket available until Today! Group discounts available until registration ends (register 3 people: $105 discount/member ticket; $100 discount/non-member ticket). Greatest discount will be applied.

Standard ticket Prices: $250 TCSA Member; $350 Non-Member.

Hotel Information

Four Points by Sheraton San San Antonio Airport Hotel

8818 Jones Malstberger

San Antonio, Texas 78216
Phone (210) 348-9960
Hotel website

The "cut-off date" for reserving rooms for the price $99/night in the Room Block is 5:00 p.m. local time at Hotel on February 22, 2013.

Register today!

Questions?
Contact Art Serna, TCSA Director of Training Services, at 512-584-8272 or via email.

TCSA HR Training: Wait - Is Your HR Strategy Ready for 2013?
Join us in Dallas, TX for a dynamic training day that will get you ready to approach your school's HR matters in a fresh way.

In this year of increased scrutiny and rapid change, charter schools need to have a sound and up-to-date set of HR policies, procedures and practices. Doing so not only helps to prevent possible legal and compliance issues, but all of these are critical components to the success and stability of a school.

TCSA is happy to provide this timely and charter school specfic training session to help Texas charter schools tighten up their HR practices and make appropriate modifications.

Topics Include:
  • The priority matters to cover at new employee orientation
  • Essential items to cover at employee orientation for returning employees
  • The critical steps to successfully adding a new employee to your school
  • Understanding the 501 (c) 3 requirements for your charter school around HR
  • Highlighting the top tax issues to consider for 2013
  • And More!
Location:
Dallas, TX - February 28, 2013 Register today!

Questions?
Contact Art Serna, TCSA Director of Training Services, at 512-584-8272 or via email.

TCSA Finance Training: Establishing Effective Accounting Controls and Reporting Mechanisms to Ensure Success
ll 
Join us in Dallas, TX for a stress reducing training day that will get you ready to approach your school's financial matters from your perspective and needs in mind.
ll
In this year of increased scrutiny and rapid change, charter schools need to have a sound and up-to-date set of accounting policies, procedures and practices. Doing so not only helps to prevent possible legal and compliance issues, but all of these are critical components to the success and stability of a school.
ll
TCSA is happy to provide this timely and charter school specfic training session to help Texas charter schools tighten up their accounting practices and make appropriate modifications.

Topics include:
Daily, weekly, and monthly accounting activities your school must have in place
Preparing and presenting budgets for stakeholders
Understanding the big picture of financial statements, including the balance sheet
And More!
ll
Location:
Dallas, TX - March 1, 2013 Register today!

Questions?

Contact Art Serna, TCSA Director of Training Services, at 512-584-8272 or via email.
charter news

Rally advocates school choice
By Rusty Graham; February 7, 2013
Students, parents, educators and lawmakers got together Saturday afternoon to celebrate and rally for school choice. Organized locally by Families Empowered, the rally was one of nearly 3,500 held across the country to raise awareness about empowering parents with the ability to "choose the best educational environments" for their children. "The (rally's) purpose is to demonstrate broadbased non-partisan support for school choice," said Colleen Dippell, founder of Families Empowered and a former Teach for America teacher. "It's about getting parents in front of elected leadership." Read more.
Handicapping the High Court on School Finance
By Morgan Smith; February 12, 2013
State District Judge John Dietz declared the Texas school finance system unconstitutional last week. But the 260 hours the litigants spent in his courtroom only mark the beginning of the lawsuit's journey through the legal system. Dietz's oral ruling, delivered from the bench immediately after the state finished its closing arguments, will be followed by a detailed written decision in four to six weeks. At that point the state plans to appeal - most likely to the Texas Supreme Court, though it could also choose a slower trek through Austin's 3rd Court of Appeals first. Opting for the more circuitous route could be advantageous depending on timing.

Read more. 

Odyssey Academy will bring third high school to isle

By John Wayne Ferguson; February 12, 2013

GALVESTON - Starting next fall, there will be three high schools on Galveston Island. Odyssey Academy is planning to expand to include grades 9 through 12 over the next four years. When that happens the school, located at the corner of 61st Street and Stewart Road, will join Ball High School as the second high school in the city limits. "It's finally gotten to a point where everything is very stable. We are in the point where we can do this now," Jennifer Goodman, the school's superintendent said. "I didn't want to just add it to add it. I wanted to make sure that we are helping students reach their dreams." Read more. 


my SA Call for House school funding debate fizzles
By Will Weissert; February 11, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - House Democrats tried to pick a fight Monday over funding for Texas' public schools, but Republicans sidestepped the issue, saying it's too early to take action amid pending legal battles. San Antonio Democratic Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer sought to declare funding for public education an emergency matter, thus allowing the chamber to immediately hear bills on it. Though House reconvened Jan. 8, it isn't allowed to vote on proposed legislation for its first 60 days unless they are declared emergency items. Gov. Rick Perry and the Legislature can both designate items as emergencies. Read more.

Today's accountability measurements go too far 
February 13, 2013
To hear some folks tell it, you'd think a great movement has arisen among Texas parents to keep their kids uneducated and unemployable. If we back away from "rigorous" academic testing, their argument goes, we'll take a step backwards in our drive for educational excellence in our public schools. What's actually happening is quite the opposite - there is indeed a movement, but it's composed of what has been described as "Mad Moms" who fear that excessive testing is ruining their children's educational experience. These Mad Moms don't fear rigor - they're simply questioning how we measure it. They've reached out to their legislators, and I and many of my colleagues think they're right. Our current testing regime is only producing improvement at one thing: taking tests. Left by the wayside are other crucial skills, such as creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and technological proficiency. Read more. 
job post of the week
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Chaparral Star Academy
Austin, Texas

Job ID: 179942 Application    Deadline: Posted until Filled
Posted: February 12, 2013     Starting Date: August 15, 2013

   

TEA logo

calendar  

2012-2013 Financial Solvency Survey   

The 2012-2013 Financial Solvency Survey is now available. Please visit the Texas Education Agency website for a link to the survey and the PDF preview of the survey.

 

The survey will not allow you to print your results, so we recommend that you print the PDF and complete it before submitting the survey. This copy can then serve as your record. The deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 1, 2013.

2012-2013 Financial Solvency Survey open and close dates:

Open: February 6, 2013
Close: March 1, 2013

If you have any questions, please contact Belinda Dyer at (512) 475-3451 or via email. 

 Instructional Materials State Review Panel Members 

February 1, 2013

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has been accepting nominations to the state review panels that will evaluate instructional materials submitted for adoption under Proclamation 2014. Due to the large volume of instructional materials submitted under Proclamation 2014, the Texas Education Agency has extended the timeline for nominations to the state review panels. Read more.  

Special Charter School Report of Students Enrolled and Students with Disabilities Receiving Special Education Services through Public Law 108-446 (Newly Opened and Significantly Expanded)

January 31, 2013

The purpose of this letter is to request child count data from charter school officials to determine eligibility for 2013-2014 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA-B) final allocations.  

 

The reporting system will be available in eGrants from February 1, 2013, through 5:00 p.m. Central Time on February 22, 2013. Child count data must be reported during this period of availability through the eGrants Special Collections, 2012-2013 Special Education Data Request-Newly Opened/Significantly Expanded form.

 

The open-enrollment charter school must have both of the following to meet the criteria for significant expansion of enrollment:
*    A minimum student    

       enrollment of 50
*    Increase in enrollment  

       must be 50% or greater

The instructions for this data report are enclosed to provide information detailing how to enter, certify, and submit the child counts. Read more. 

 The 2012 Student Assessment Data Validation Manual is now 

available here. The 2012 Student Assessment Data Validation district reports are scheduled to be posted to the secure TEASE Accountability application on Friday, February 22, 2013.
 
Technical Assistance:  
Performance-Based Monitoring (PBM) contacts are available at each education service center (ESC) to provide technical assistance to school districts.  Latest updates to the ESC PBM contacts can be found here, using the Search RESCs function.  
 
For questions about interventions, including ISAM inquiries, please contact: Program Monitoring and Interventions by calling 512.463.5226 or via email.
 
For questions about the manual or the indicators described in the manual, please contact: Performance-Based Monitoring by calling 512.936.6426 or via email. 

Annual Financial and Compliance Report    

ESCs with a fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 must submit their 2012 annual financial and compliance report to TEA by November 27, 2012. ESCs with a fiscal year ending August 31, 2012 must submit their 2012 annual financial and compliance report to TEA by January 28, 2013.

Change to Automobile Mileage Reimbursement Rate 

December 19, 2012

Applicable to State and Federal Grants from the Texas Education Agency
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has changed the automobile mileage reimbursement rate. On January 1, 2013, the rate increased from 55.5 to 56.5 cents per mile. Travel and lodging reimbursement rates have not changed. The standard rates, effective until August 31, 2013, are up to $77 per night for lodging and up to $46 per day for meals, unless a higher rate for the travel destination is specified. Read more.